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7.3

Praise: For all who prayed for Joseph this past week – thank you. We just returned from the clinic and Joseph’s neutrophils were 7.3 – which is the highest number he has had in 3 years.

When we went to the clinic today to have Joseph’s blood tested we were talking to the senior lab scientist who reviewed Joseph’s result from last week. I told him that when I was told Joseph’s neutrophils were “zero” I kept waiting to here the “point something” after that. He replied, “Yes, I looked at it myself and it really was ZERO, but we are looking for better things today.”

A short time later a smiling nurse came to us with the results. Neutrophils of 7.3 and we are now back on oral chemo. For Joseph this was just another week of learning and play – but for us it was a day by day evidence of God’s grace to our family as Joseph did not grow ill. Twice during the week he told us he had a sore throat as he was going to bed – we were waiting to see if he developed a fever overnight but by the next morning he was feeling fine.

Last night as I tucked Joseph in bed he had a smile on his face and asked ” Daddy when will the last day come?” I replied “You mean the last day of your treatment? and Joseph said “No, when will be the day that Jesus comes back?” This was asked without the fear or agitation that people normally have about such a question – Joseph had a peaceful expression and was smiling – this was a question of ‘when will this wonderful thing happen’. Just the type of thing that every father with a 4 year old theologian is asked.

I told him, ” Well, Joseph, God has not told us when it will happen – just that it will happen and to be ready for His return”. Joseph replied, “Why won’t God tell us?” I said, “It’s so we will not get all focused on that one day and get on with what He has given us to do while we are here.” “But why?”Joseph asked. To which I said, “Suppose I told you boys we were going on holiday in 3 weeks. All that you would be able to think about would be holiday – rather than all the other things you need to do these next 3 weeks. Right now you know that we will go on holiday at some point but not which day, so you can go on with the things you have to do now.” Then I asked, “Does that make sense?” and to this Joseph smiled and said, “Yes, daddy…That will be a good day.” And then snuggled into his bed and dropped off to sleep.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will be the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whose master returns and finds him doing his job. Matthew 24:36-46